Localized surface plasmon resonance in two-dimensional silver nanodot array fabricated using nanoporous alumina mask for chemical sensor platform

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2-D) metal nanodot arrays (NDAs) have been attracting significant attention for use in biological and chemical sensing applications. The unique optical properties of the metal NDAs originate from their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Nanofabrication methods that use nanoporous alumina masks (NAMs) have been widely used to produce metal NDAs. We report a fabrication technique for a 2-D Ag NDA and its utilization as a platform for LSPR-based sensing applications. A well-ordered Ag NDA of similar to 70-nm diameter, arranged in a periodic pattern of 105 nm, was fabricated on an indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate using an NAM as an evaporation mask. The LSPR of the Ag NDA on the ITO glass was investigated using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The LSPR wavelength shifts caused by the variations in the quantity of methylene blue adsorbed on the Ag NDA were examined. The results of this study suggest that the Ag NDA prepared using NAM can be used as a chemical sensor platform. (C) 2016 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)